On behalf of the board, a hearty welcome to everyone who has come out tonight! 

This large turnout is a great encouragement. We are glad to see so many of you here taking part in this first public rally of Reformed Believers Publishing.

It is becoming clear that the first six issues of Sword and Shield have stirred a new excitement and hope among the people of God. There is an awareness that the truth is again on the loose and has been set free. A fresh air is blowing again instead of a stifling and oppressive atmosphere, when for too long the truth has been stifled and silenced. 

Thanks be to God for Sword and Shield!

I want to thank everyone who was involved in setting up the meeting tonight and in the planning and preparations that were made so that we could have this meeting here.

Prayer

Lord, our God and Father in heaven, we exalt and praise thy holy name. We confess that we are guilty and dead sinners, and we thank thee that thou hast quickened us in Christ thy Son.

We thank thee for this meeting of Reformed Believers Publishing and for the many men and women who have joined in the cause of defending and promoting the truth through the printed page.

We thank thee that Sword and Shield magazine could be born and make an entrance into the world. And we thank thee for the clear tokens and evidences of thy blessing. We pray for Sword and Shield, that it will be a great light to disperse the fog of errors in our churches.

Bless our purpose to maintain the gospel of sovereign grace and the truth that God is God and absolutely sovereign.

Grant us unity so that we may speak with one mouth to give an unashamed and uncompromising witness to the truth in these times of doctrinal controversy, uncertainty, and confusion.

We pray that thou wilt confound and destroy the efforts of the powers of darkness that work to malign our cause and silence our witness and testimony to the pure gospel of grace.

We thank thee for our editor and coeditors. We rejoice in their unflinching commitment and love for the gospel of sovereign, particular grace and the unconditional covenant. Grant to them continued wisdom to write and great courage to contend mightily for the truth—and much grace as they endure many slanders and threatenings for the cause of Christ.

Bless the board in its work. Give continued zeal to publish the truth in spite of strong opposition. 

We thank thee for the blossoming list of association members and supporters evident tonight. 

Grant our speakers all that they stand in need of. We confess that everything depends upon thy blessing. May this entire program be to thy glory and praise alone.

We pray all this, asking the remission of our sins, in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

Introduction of Rev. Lanning and His Speech

It is a great pleasure for me to introduce our speaker tonight. He will speak to us on the topic, “A Believer’s Paper: The Freedom of Sword and Shield.”

This is a subject in which we are all deeply interested. The appearance of Sword and Shield has touched off a firestorm of criticism and objections. The criticism is that we do not have the right to engage in doctrinal controversy apart from the church assemblies. It is denied that the office of believer, through its magazine Sword and Shield, may contend against the lie and contend for the truth. The speech tonight will instruct and encourage us in these important matters that lay at the very foundation of Reformed Believers Publishing and its right of existence as a free witness.

Our speaker was ordained into the gospel ministry in 2006 and has served pastorates in Faith Protestant Reformed Church and Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore. Currently, he is the pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church. He is also the editor-in-chief of Sword and Shield. 

Join me in welcoming Rev. Andy Lanning!